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No proof against Gurunath, Kundra, says BCCI probe panel

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Sources in the 24-member BCCI working committee said they had no idea whom the two former judges had summoned to depose before them. There is also no clarity on the list of documents that was made available to them, particularly those related to Meiyappan and his alleged links with India Cements and CSK.

A report submitted by a two-member panel that probed allegations of betting and spot-fixing against Srinivasan's son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, India Cements Ltd (owner of Chennai Super Kings) and Jaipur IPL Pvt Ltd (owner of Rajasthan Royals), found no direct evidence of wrongdoing on the part of any party. The panel consisted of two former judges of the Tamil Nadu high court, Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian.

The report gave an inconclusive reference to Meiyappan's alleged involvement in betting on IPL matches. The same could not be established because of alleged non-cooperation on the part of Mumbai Police, which had booked him for the offence, the report says. (PTI/PTI)

"The report clearly said that Meiyappan may or may not have been involved. There is no proof available against him in front of the probe committee to accuse him of betting in IPL matches," a source close to the development told TOI on Sunday. (PTI/PTI)

Rajasthan Royals' co-owner Raj Kundra -- who was accused of placing bets in IPL matches through his close aide (Umesh Goenka) -- was also cleared by the probe panel, on the ground that Goenka had retracted his statement.

The report's virtual clean chit means that Srinivasan, who had "stepped aside" from the BCCI president's post pending the completion of the inquiry, is now free to return to the hot seat. Whether he warms up to it immediately, or waits till August 2 when the IPL Governing Council meets in New Delhi to further discuss the report, remains to be seen.

"The Governing Council will examine the report and take a decision. A copy of the report will be made public in due course," Dalmiya said. The council's decision will have to be ratified by the Working Committee, which will again meet on the same day.

Sources in the 24-member BCCI working committee said they had no idea whom the two former judges had summoned to depose before them. There is also no clarity on the list of documents that was made available to them, particularly those related to Meiyappan and his alleged links with India Cements and CSK. (PTI/PTI)